Seahawks sign Cliff Avril to 4-year extension

That Seahawks trade of Percy Harvin in October keeps on giving. Now they are even locking up their imports to keep their No.-1 ranked defense intact.

Seattle signed rush end Cliff Avril to a four-year contract extension on Friday, a league source with knowledge of the contract confirmed to The News Tribune. The deal is using some more of the future cap space the Seahawks freed by dealing Harvin and his $11 million salary to the New York Jets in October.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Seahawks have yet to announce the deal, though they are likely to later Friday.

Avril’s new contract comes one day after Seattle re-signed outside linebacker K.J. Wright to a four-year extension worth $27 million.

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Ian Rapoport of the league-owned television and internet networks was the first to report Avril’s deal that keeps Seattle's defensive line bookended with its ends under contract through the 2017 season. Rapoport reported Avril's contract is worth $28.5 million with $16 million guaranteed.

Avril had eight sacks last season and has 4 1/2 through 14 games this season. He's gone from a situational pass rusher in 2013 to far more valuable in 2014 as an every-down end who has started all 14 games opposite Michael Bennett.

The Seahawks let Bennett become a free agent of theirs this past March before they re-signed him to a $32 million, four-year deal, also with $16 million guaranteed.

Avril had 29 sacks in the previous three seasons for the Detroit Lions before the Seahawks signed him to a $13 million, two-year contract as a free agent in the spring of 2013. That expiring deal is paying him $7 million in base salary this year.